Seize the day with a ferocity not known to mankind

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

1. What is Parkinson’s law.

2. How you can use this to your advantage.

Do you ever feel like no matter how much time you have, it never feels like enough?

Or, in your school days - how you used to cram the night before the exams?

There's a suspicious feeling that work always expands to fit how much time we have 🙂 

If so, you're not alone. Many people experience this, but few realize why this happens/ what to do about it.

Not understanding this law can cause:

• Low productivity.

• Increased stress.

• Missed deadlines.

In essence, you can achieve much more by:

• Moving fast and breaking things.

• Failing early, failing often.

• Deep work.

I'm not a CEO. Why should I know about this??

1. To kill perfectionism.

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Approach work and personal projects with an emphasis on speed and experimentation.

2. Minimum viable product.

In business, it is the most basic version of a product used to get customer feedback. Companies such as Uber, Figma and slack worked their way to unicorn status using MVPs.

Personally, this can be:

• Learning a new skill in a short time:

  • Using the pareto principle to identify the 20% which lead to 80% of the results.

  • e.g. Learning the most - used phrases in a new language by befriending someone who speaks the language.

• Starting a side business:

  • e.g. Test your hypothesis that a local market exists for your artisanal cupcake recipe. (before spending $ for expensive kitchen equipment).

3. Feedback loops are important for growth.

They’re an essential part of a flow activity.

4. Constraints = creativity.

This is a counter - intuitive fact. With less options, we spend more time doing and less time deciding. With less time, we focus on the absolute essentials. Remember cramming before the exams?

You may not be the CEO of a company. But you're the CEO of your life.

How you can use this knowledge to your advantage:

Although the law deals with time and work, you can apply it to all areas of life.

1. Relationships = Life dinner method.

The idea is to have a recurring dinner date with your significant other. And to be present in the moment. The point is to make time to build your relationship.

2. Avoid wasted time = use app timers.

The average person spends 3 Hrs. 15 minutes / day on their phone. Americans check their phones around 144 times / day. While keeping in touch with loved ones is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of mental health.

3. Set strict timers for addictive apps.

This will force you to be in touch while not wasting your days.

4. Better health = Use smaller plates / servings.

This will make you a mindful eater. Source.

5. Money = use automatic investments.

Set up an automatic investment for each paycheque you receive. This way, a part of your money is already growing (before you see it in your account and get tempted to spend it).

6. Use forcing functions.

E.g. Work in a cafe without your laptop charger. This forces you to complete your work in a limited time.

Work against committed deadline or with an accountability partner. Accountability partner is someone you make a pact with. So if you start deviating from your goal, they keep you accountable. You can also try paying someone every time you miss your goal.

Tim Ferris asks a related question: “If I could work only 2 hours / week on my business, what would I do”?

7. Setting stretch goals.

It is a goal which feels insanely - out of reach of your current capabilities. This is how teams at SpaceX and Tesla have disrupted age - old industries in such a short span of time.

If you feel a project will take 2 weeks, think how you can complete it in 1. This will force you to think about creative solutions. And you’ll guard your time fiercely.

How to use this in your daily life:

1. Use SMART goals.

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. More ideas here.

2. Timeboxing.

In essence, you block your calendar to work on 1 important and / or urgent task at a time. This is a highly - effective time management technique. I’ve written more about it here.

Historical context:

British Naval historian and author Cyril Northcote coined Parkinson’s law. He showed that the British Naval bureaucracy grew even when the navy it served was shrinking after WW1.

I hope this powerful concept helps you in your personal and professional life. Share with someone who will benefit.

Further reading:

• 9 Parkinson’s law examples to skyrocket your time management skills.

P.S: This article followed Parkinson’s law - I completed it only a while ago 😂